Manager, Energy Use Studies

About NEEA

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of Northwest energy consumers to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products services and practices. Since 1997, the region has achieved the equivalent to enough energy to power more than 700,000 Northwest homes each year.

The alliance is powered by harnessing the energy, brainpower, and innovative thinking of motivated professionals like you. NEEA places a high value on diversity, and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, identities and fields of expertise, with or without previous experience in the energy industry. Are you talented, committed, and motivated? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to apply to help us create a vibrant future for all Northwest communities.

Follow this link to our website and learn more about the organization.

This position is based in the Portland, OR metro area, with a hybrid work location. We are looking for candidates who can meet the requirement of working at least 2 days per week onsite at NEEA’s office location. Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US.

Summary

This position directs NEEA’s energy use studies department, which is responsible for NEEA’s planning and management of its large regional energy use studies, which include, but is not limited to, building stock assessments and end-use load research. This is a working management position which sets the strategic direction for the department, supervises the planning and execution of a $2 - $3 million annual budget, leads a staff of 2+ professionals, and directly manages studies.

The data is collected and analyzed to help inform NEEA’s programs and set the stage for planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as used by many funder and stakeholder organizations. This position is highly collaborative working closely with other functional areas of the organization and key external stakeholders, to design, implement and disseminate findings to key audiences throughout the region and nationally. In addition, the manager is responsible for budget, contracting, operations, and business planning. The incumbent will share our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and advancing practices, strategies and policies that achieve equitable outcomes for all.

Salary range: $115,000 - $135,000 exempt

• salary is based on the applicants Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  
  

The Typical Day May Include…

Department Management and Supervision

• Develop and implement long-term and annual plans to achieve NEEA’s business plan goals, clearly articulating vision, objectives, strategies, value proposition, and resource requirements.
• Oversee and coach staff and ensure that appropriate objectives, goals and development plans are set for staff and that progress is tracked and deliverables are met. Lead the team to promote organizational learning, identification and adoption of best practices.
• Work across the organization to support the efforts of the group. Collaborate with other departments to coordinate efforts, overcome obstacles, find collaborative solutions and assure smooth operations and task clarity in a matrix environment.
• Manage cost-center budgeting, forecasting, and variance reporting, contracts, personnel expenses and other general and administrative costs.
  
  

Program Management and Stakeholder Relations

• Scope large regional energy use studies that effectively deliver robust, quality data sets, and relevant, practical, actionable results for NEEA and stakeholders. Develop RFPs, manage competitive process for contractor selection, and work closely with Legal to negotiate contracts.
• Manage multiple technical contractors with a variety of specific expertise, scope and assign actionable defined tasks to support the overall study.
• Proactively track and report the status of multiple streams of activities such as: research design, recruitment, data collection tool development, quality assurance, invoicing and project execution, statistical inference and analytical planning.
• Work closely with Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Communications team members in developing and implementing an effective engagement and communications plan.
• Assure that all study efforts are transparent and clearly communicated to internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish productive healthy relationships with NEEA employees, regional stakeholders, work groups and steering committee members and leverage the knowledge and expertise of others; particularly in such areas as research design, variable definitions, emergent questions, participant contact and recruiting.
• Other duties which may be necessary or desirable to support the organization’s success.
  
  

What Are You Good At?

A Top Performer in this role would be someone with a strategic mindset and strong leadership skills, capable of directing the team responsible for complex energy use studies and managing a significant budget with precision. They would excel in collaborative environments, effectively coordinating with various stakeholders and team members to drive the department's objectives. Their data and analytical prowess would be crucial in collecting and interpreting data to inform NEEA's programs, stakeholders, and leadership - ensuring impactful planning and implementation. Moreover, they’d have a history leading a successful team. Capable of inspiring growth and building upon existing strengths.

You Likely Have The Following Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing complex programs/studies in a team environment.
• Experience directly managing professional staff, contracts and contractors.
• Experience with utility resource planning, resource conservation potential assessment and/or field studies, where the study is used to project results into a population.
• Experience with residential and/or commercial energy research studies
• Experience in the field of building science, energy management and/or energy efficiency highly preferred.
• Experience with large scale data collection and management efforts, segmentation studies, ideally building and/or end use metering studies.
• Experience working with diverse sets of stakeholders and facilitating consensus-based approaches.
  
  

Your Education, Skills, And Knowledge

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Economics, Energy Studies, Research
• Working knowledge of basic building science, how buildings perform, and the ability to apply knowledge to utility business needs.
• Management experience in staff development and team building. Ability to listen, coach, and provide feedback to motivate talented staff.
• Superb communication and influence management skills, with the ability to excel working in a small office cross-functional team environment, and with regional stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation skills and the ability to build consensus among technical and non-technical personnel.
• Effective relationship management with the ability to drive results in a collaborative environment.
• High degree of adaptability and the ability to help define and refine the position to meet desired outcomes.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties will also be considered.
  
  

Highlights Of NEEA’s Benefits

• 90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, including for dependents
• Employer funded Health Savings Account
• Automatic 6% retirement contribution with an additional 2% matching
• 136 Hours of PTO/year
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work location and 9/80 schedule options
• Professional development opportunities
  
  

NEEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer